"Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth..."
2 Timothy 3

The last straw arrived today -- another 'christian chain letter.'

Perhaps it's just me - but I am tired of fortune cookie theology, of chain letters sent via email disguised as both christian and prayer:

emails oft including wonderful scripture, perhaps a fabulous inspirational photo: then lain bare - stripped of its value - headed for the trash by the addition of such drivel as:

"God told me to tell you that everything you're going through is taken care of. If you believe in Him send to 8 people, and in 53 seconds watch who calls" [Why 53, why not 60 or 30? Calls? Why calls?? and  if I don't send this to 8 people am I disqualified as a believer?]

"When you receive this, say a prayer, then send this to all your friends and relatives...Three things will happen to you this coming week:
(1) You will find favor with someone you don't expect; (2) You will be too relevant to be ignored; (3) You will encounter God and you will never remain the same." [So if I don't sent this to all my friends and relatives will I loose favor, become irrelevant, not encounter God and forever remain the same?]

"Today God has confirmed the end of your sufferings, sorrows and pain because HE that sits on the throne has remembered you. He has taken away the hardships and given you JOY. He will never let you down. I knocked at heaven's door this morning, God asked me.. My child! What can I do for you? And I said, 'Father, please protect and bless the person reading this message...." [I think this speaks for itself in its erroneous twist of scripture.]

It is getting more and more difficult to speak the truth in love. I have repeatedly ask to not be included in these 'chain gang letters' yet they continue to arrive. Why is it so difficult to see the foolishness, the twisting of truth, the false gospel included in these posts?

Why do those sending this not recognize the truth from the lie?

Looking at scripture, recognizing these are the last days, perhaps this is the way it must be.

From the teachings of Paul Washer:

“God saved you from God. It was God who was arrayed in the armour and weaponry of a soldier. Coming after you. In His holiness, and His justice. God coming after you. To do vengeance against you. To cause you to pay for all that you have done against Him, and He is able to return His sword to the sheath now because Christ has died. Christ saved you from the wrath of an almighty God. Hell is just a revelation of that. I always tell people this. God saved you from Himself, God saved you for Himself and God saved you by Himself.

“People tell me judge not lest ye be judged. I always tell them, twist not scripture lest ye be like satan.”

“The work is hindered. The glory of God is tarnished and it is because the people of God no longer know how to discern the things of God.”

"There is an energy in the world, a spark, an electricity that everything is plugged into. The Greeks called it zoe, the mystics call it 'Spirit,' and Obi-Wan called it 'the Force.' ...This energy, spark, and electricity that pulses through all of creation sustains it, fuels it, and keeps it going. Growing, evolving, reproducing..." Rob Bell, Love Wins, pp.144-145.

"[Jesus] will always transcend whatever cages and labels are created to contain and name him, especially the one called 'Christianity.'...Jesus himself...demonstrates how seriously he takes his role of saving and rescuing and redeeming not just everything, but everybody." Rob Bell, Love Wins, pp.150-151]

Rob Bell, who has a unique ability to make God's Truth sound detestable, has resigned his 'pastorate' at Mars Hill to follow a 'calling to share God's love' in new ways... We serve a big God and none of this is shocking to him. All we can do is embrace a future that is going to be brilliant."

"...there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies.... And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed." 2 Peter 2:1-3

 "When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head.... And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!' Then they spat on Him... struck Him... [and] led Him away to be crucified. " Matthew 27:29-31

Romans 10:2 speaks of those who have a “zeal for God but not according to knowledge.”

Scripture clearly states that salvation depends entirely on the grace of God:

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” Ephesians 2:8-9

Let us therefore be cautious in following any teaching that suggests that Christ’s work was/is incomplete or unnecessary, or that there are other paths to God.

Jesus said:

“I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” John 14:6

And the LORD said:

"...I will build MY church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Matthew 16:18 

There is the Roman Catholic Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and Jehovah' Witness. There are Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian,  Lutheran and Church of Christ. There are mega churches and mini churches, churches from Texas to Taiwan from Michigan to Mexico ---

some pray to Mary as mediator, looking to her as an object of trust for answered prayer, still others forbid the use of musical instruments in their worship while others embrace drums, key boards and full orchestras. There are churches which have ordained homosexual clergy while others offer 'christian' yoga, soaking prayer and teach we are all gods. There are pastors in prison for their faith while others live in mansions and drive Rolls Royce automobiles...

- all claiming membership in His church.

Have we, the body, the church, failed to understand what our LORD meant when He said: "MY church?"

Zechariah 3:7 says:

"Thus said the LORD of hosts; If you will walk in MY ways, and if you will keep MY charge, then you shall also judge MY house, and shall also keep MY courts, then I will give you..."

Do man-made theologies and ecumenicalism reflect the biblical foundations set forth by our LORD for His church? Has the vision of the Emergent Church, emphasizing tolerance and social justice more than  repentance and belief in the Gospel of Christ brought the church closer or driven it further from what the LORD called -- "MY church?"

"For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it." Matthew 7:14

Are flashy automobiles, ivory towers and Lear jets what first century Christians envisioned when they gave their lives for the gospel rather than compromise their faith or deny their Saviour and LORD? Are posh palaces and thousand dollar suits what pastors and church leaders in Iran, Pakistan, China... dream of as they sit in prison cells awaiting trial for their witness to the saving power of their LORD and Saviour Jesus Christ?  

"I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. Because you say, 'I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,' and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. I advise you to buy from me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see." Revelation 3:15-18

The organized church has replaced pure Biblical truth with man made doctrines - the way of the cross and the power of the blood is foolishness to those that are perishing.

Today, these essential beliefs, which constitute the power of Christianity, are being subjected to an unparalleled assault from within the Church itself. The Bible says that in the end times people will mock the promises of the Lord.  What is so shocking is that most of the mockery is coming from within the Church!  Dr. David Reagan, Living for Christ in the End Times

God always has a few stalks of wheat among the tares.

John MacArthur says:  'Not everybody bows their knee to Baal. There will always be a few spiritual among the nonspiritual, a few sincere among the hypocrites, a few humble among the proud, a few separated among the worldly and a few regenerate among the unregenerated'

and indeed

~~ the gates of hell shall not prevail against this, HIS church.~~ 

We could hardly miss a 500 pound gorilla in the front room, but too often fail to see the mouse hiding in the corner. We might be more astute and see the mouse but fail to see the fly.

Deception seldom comes roaring in with clanging bells and brass bands. Deception' arrival often goes unnoticed albeit undetected by far too many as each strive to be all they feel the LORD has called them to be. There is something subtly deceptive about deception. Deception all to often goes unnoticed, undetected, unchecked and unchallenged.

For example:

Augustine, loved by so many in the faith, tells us that scripture teaches: "All sinned in Adam" ~ but does it?

J.R.R. Tolkien's “The Lord of the Rings” series remains an extremely popular trilogy among many bible believing Christians. Fascinating millions of readers through its Christian ideals and morals, “The Lord of the Rings” hero, Samwise, is loved for his selflessness, his devotion to his master, and his strength in resisting evil ~ but is this Christianity?

William P. Young, C.S. Lewis and J.K Rowlings; respected by millions within the church as  Christian authors ~ but are they?

The bible does not say “all sinned in Adam” but says: “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.” 1 Corinthians 15:22

J.R.R. Tolkien, “The Lord of the Rings” series was not biblically based, theologically sound nor Christian in its theme or content. Tolkien himself denied the very thing that some Christians today are claiming, that these fantasies are an allegory of Christ’s victory over the devil. Dungeons and Dragons, which appeared in the early 1970s was based on Tolkien’s fantasy novels.

Repeatedly; witchcraft, sorcery and divination sprang from the pages of novels penned by  'christian' authors C.S. Lewis and J.K. Rowlings. Many within Christendom view the works of Rowlings and Lewis as being where cultural and spiritual issues overlap. Neither author identify the source of the supernatural power in their works, presenting magic as something rather ordinary -- something to be used for good or evil.

William [Paul] Young author of The Shack writes:

 “No matter what God’s power may be, the first aspect of God is never that of absolute Master, the Almighty. It is that of the God who puts Himself on our human level and limits Himself.”

The Shack undermines Scripture and the church, presents a mutilated gospel,  misrepresents biblical teachings concerning the Godhead and offers a New Age understanding of God and the universe.

"The Purpose-Driven Church, The Postmodern Church, The Shack, New Spirituality, Kingdom Now, Word of Faith or the Emergent Church all have as their agenda a major paradigm shift that has affected and will continue to both affect and infiltrate the minds of many evangelical pastors. The shift includes the new evangelical notion that the church must become postmodern in order to reach secular America. The shift includes a definitive move away from belief in absolute truth." Berit Kjos

We must test all things - accepting nothing as truth which cannot be based on the foundation of scripture. In the dark days ahead many will come with new ideas, new ways of doing, new ways of being -remember the words of our LORD:

"Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves." Matthew 10:16

"... we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:19

PayPal is conducting an investigation of several pro-family organizations and individuals targeted by a homosexual campaign that accuse the groups of hate and extremism.

The inquiry launched by PayPal comes in apparent response to a campaign by the homosexual group All Out which is asking that PayPal eliminate ten organizations from its service. 'In roughly 60 years homosexuality has gone from being a taboo perversion to a powerful force that punishes those who disagree with same-sex behavior; especially Christians' ~ Peter LaBarbera of AFTAH.

Some who have been targeted include: LifeSiteNews translator and pro-family blogger Julio Severo[Last Days Watchman], the Catholic activist group Tradition, Family, and Property, and Peter LaBarbera’s Americans for Truth About Homosexuality (AFTAH).

To sign the petition to protest against the persecution of Pro-Family Christians, visit: (http://profamilyfreedom.net/)
 Or call PayPal at:
1-402-935-2050 (USA)
4:00 AM PST to 10:00 PM Pacific Time Monday through Friday
6:00 AM PST to 8:00 PM Pacific Time Saturday and Sunday

"Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things..." 2 Timothy 4:2-5

Herescope writes:

'Before sending your RSVP to the wedding of Dominique and Political Perry, biblical believers need to remember; our future is not on this present earth.

'Political Perry has proposed marriage to Dominique (NAR & IHOP apostles and prophets) and she has accepted. Political Perry chose for his beloved from a fringe evangelical clan of decendants of the long-forgotten Pentecostal clan called "Latter-Rain." Many among the various clans of evangelicals haven’t even heard about Dominique, or even the clan Latter Rain. But many evangelicals are just content to know that Dominique is from conservative stock and has no relatives among the liberals.

Even though some of Dominique's nearest family members call their leaders apostles and prophets and have plans to start a worldwide struggle to subdue the earth, they are perceived as better than the liberals and have a leftist quest for a one world pagan order.

Dominique has a lot to offer Political Perry to help him become the Republican nominee and become the leader of the free world. Dominique has in place a network of close relatives in every state, even down to the precinct level. Her more distant cousins and other evangelical clans can be counted on later in the national election. The prospective bridegroom is already making friends of Dominique’s closer political friends and extended family...

Political Perry is just another politician looking for votes and power. Dominique is a harlot who would like to use Political Perry—or any other convenient candidate—for a false dominion upon the earth.'

Things are not always as they appear. Beware of wolves in sheep's clothing, wherever they may be found.

To read the complete article, visit: http://herescope.blogspot.com/

Anne Graham Lotz and Joel Rosenberg spoke with passion as they urged Christians to repent:

"What has lulled you to sleep:  in your personal lives -  in the church?

Some of you might be serving in the church and attending services every week, but are you aware of what is going on around you? Are you sleeping through  God's alarms.

We must start living for Jesus because He is the greatest authority in the universe and praying as if eternity were only a breath away. Churches are so worried about being politically correct they are not paying attention to Jesus."

This is what the Lord Almighty tell us in Haggai 2:6-7, 21-22;

‘In a little while, I will once more shake the heavens and the earth. I will shake all the nations….I will shake the heavens and the earth. I will overturn royal thrones and shatter the power of the foreign kingdoms.”

"Washington is nearly paralyzed with partisan gridlock, Iran is building nuclear weapons, Syria and Libya are slaughtering thousands, Egypt has imploded, and Israel is increasingly threatened; surrounded by her enemies - chastised by her friends.

Storm clouds are gathering, the winds are picking up, tectonic plates are shifting. Sin is destroying the church and the people of God. God’s people must commit themselves to deep prayer, Bible reading, and getting hearts right with the LORD. Bible prophecy tells us that far greater storms are coming as we steadily approach the day of our LORD."

"Why have they provoked me to anger with their carved images and with their foreign idols? The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved." Jeremiah 8

We are a designer society. We want everything customized to our personal needs — our clothing, our food, our education.  Now it's our religion.

America is headed for 310 million people with 310 million religions.

Barna's new book on U.S. Christians, Futurecast, tracks changes from 1991 to 2011, in annual national surveys of 1,000 to 1,600 American adults. All the major trend lines of religious belief and behavior ran downward

 — except two.

More people claim they have accepted Jesus as their Saviour and expect to go to heaven ~

And more say they haven't been to church in the past six months except for special occasions such as weddings or funerals.

When Barna measured people by their belief in seven essential doctrines, defined by the National Association of Evangelicals' Statement of Faith, only 7% of those surveyed qualified. People say, 'I believe in God. I believe the Bible is a good book. And then I believe whatever I want'.

"Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made, and he said, did God really say..." Genesis 3

Carol of Zion, Ill.  drifted through a few mainline Protestant denominations in her youth, found a home in the peace and unity message of the Baha'i tradition for several years, and then was drawn deeply into Native American traditional healing practices. She calls herself Christian.

Sheila says: "I can't remember the last time I went to church. My faith has carried me a long way. It's Sheilaism. Just my own little voice. … It's just try to love yourself and be gentle with yourself. You know, I guess, take care of each other. I think God would want us to take care of each other."

Yet Jeremiah tells us: "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?"

Be self-controlled and be alert, because our enemy the devil prowls around
like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

"Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will." Hebrews 2

Each life matters. It matters to God and it should matter to us.

September 11, 2001 mattered.

Senate and House, Democrat and Republican stood shoulder-to-shoulder on the steps of the capitol. Displaying a spirit of unity they broke out in an apparent spontaneous chorus of God Bless America.

Except for those who were touched in a personal way, after a few short months  flags were raised from their lowered position, memories began to fade, and focus shifted from 9/11 to Thanksgiving and Christmas ~~

and Americans returned to business as usual.

But each life matters.  It matters to God and it should matter to us.

As millions spent the day [9/11/11] remembering the tenth anniversary of  9/11 - grieving for the people the pride and the feeling of invincibility that had been taken in the twinkling of an eye ~ I wondered: 

How many grieve for the millions of Asians who work from dawn to dusk for a handful of rice while Americans shop WalMart to purchase the products those calloused hands have made? How many grieve for the millions of aborted babies? How many grieve over the brokenness of this world, grieving over the thousands who die daily forever lost in their sins; without love, without hope, without God? How many grieve over homosexual clergy, same sex marriage, gays in the military, the watered-down perverted gospel spewed across the airways of 'christian' television or the half-truths and tolerant sermons and Love Wins messages heard in far too many American churches, messages that are steadily stealing the souls of men?

How many...?

Each life matters. It matters to God and it should matter to us.

"If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory." Colossians 3:1-4

Complete with swastikas, protesters carry signs outside the Israeli embassy in Cairo which read:

"The Gas Chambers Are Ready!"

Libya, now liberated by the U.S. military under the auspices of NATO, is on a path to becoming the third nation to establish Sharia law as the principal basis for all future constitutional legislation.

With violence ever increasing and the talk of war growing stronger in the Middle East, with the United States suffering deadly tornadoes, with massive rivers overflowing their banks, billion-dollar blizzards, hurricanes, drought and wildfires we grasp at strawmen - our arms hang limp at our side.

We feel powerless - but are we?

"Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Who has gathered up the wind in the hollow of his hands? Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and the name of his son? Tell me if you know!" Proverbs 30:4

We tune into the news - noon, six and eleven. We must be informed.  We look expectantly to the godless world albeit president, congress, the prime minister, socialism, king or crown to fix the problems. Americans look ahead to the 2012 elections, waiting with anticipation of a change for the better. The godless world of governments, stimulus monies, presidents or kings is neither our problem nor our salvation - yet we stand in awe and wait as if they were.

"I have a plan for the whole earth, a hand of judgment upon all the nations." Isaiah 14:26

We grumble and complain, perhaps we are shocked when  governments of the world act in ungodly ways. But should one expect the ungodly to act in any other way other than: "ungodly?'

"Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked." Psalms 97:10

Far too many Christians today claim to love God, yet tolerate sin, love evil and allow the Word of God to be twisted until it has become unrecognizable. MANY  bare the Name of Christ - but in name only. The church has been infiltrated by error and sin, and the people seemingly love to have it so.

One need not look too far nor too hard before the problem becomes apparent.

Ask the LORD to examine your heart. Examine your place in His kingdom, examine your commitment to follow Him. Look honestly and wait expectantly for Him - but do not trust nor expect the strawman to act on your behalf. We must seek to serve and honor Him with our lives. Our faith, our hope, our trust must be in our LORD and in Him alone.

We must stop looking to sinful godless man to do what only God can do.

"Therefore wait for me, declares the LORD, for the day I will stand up to testify. I have decided to assemble the nations, to gather the kingdoms and to pour out my wrath on them--all my fierce anger. The whole world will be consumed by the fire of my jealous anger." Zephaniah 3:8

Help us LORD our God to look in and not out, to look up and not around - to serve, to hope, to honor, to trust and to wait on You.

"...they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:31

"We need to rescue Jesus from our false understanding about Him and what He taught. Jesus true “framing story” must be discovered and proclaimed. And what is this framing story? “The Bible is the story of the partnership between God and humanity to save and transform all of human society and avert global self-destruction”... “Jesus came to launch an insurgency to overthrow that occupying regime. Its goal is to resist the occupation, liberate the planet, and retrain and restore humanity to its original vocation and potential."

"A new heaven and earth are unnecessary because “good will prevail by peace, love, truth, faithfulness, and courageous endurance of suffering.”

Strong words from Brian McLaren and his fellow herdsmen Doug Paggit, Rick Warren, Rob Bell, Jim Wallis, Tony Campolo and a host of others who would rather swallow the lie than follow the LORD.

"The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness." 2 Thessalonians 2: 9-12

Being a true follower of our LORD is not for the faint of heart - but for those who will take up their cross and follow Him, refusing to be swayed by every wind of doctrine. A true follower of our LORD has determined in his heart to finish the race our Creator God has set before us, regardless of the cost.

Are you in or are you out?

'The world is deathly ill. It is dying. The Great Physician has already signed the death certificate. Yet there is still a great work for Christians to do. They are to be streams of living water, channels of mercy to those who are still in the world. It is possible for them to do this because they are overcomers.

Christians are ambassadors for Christ. They are representatives from Heaven to this dying world. And because of our presence here, things will change.

Sometimes I get frightened as I read the Bible, and as I look in this world and see all of the tribulation and persecution promised by the Bible coming true. Now I can tell you, though, if you too are afraid, that I have just read the last pages. I can now come to shouting “Hallelujah! Hallelujah!” for I have found where it is written that Jesus said, “He that overcometh shall inherit all things: and I will be His God, and he shall be My son.” This is the future and hope of this world. Not that the world will survive — but that we shall be overcomers in the midst of a dying world.'

written by Ms Corrie tenBoom ~ truly a woman of God.

'The mandate for believers in our day is a rescue operation of individual lost souls, not a program of collective global transformation. True believers certainly need to reflect the teachings and love of Christ in every aspect of their lives, but they are to do so first and foremost to please the One who saved them. It may be that some will turn to Christ because of a believer's steadfastness and fruitfulness in the faith, but that will be the exception in this rebellious world, as biblical prophecy clearly indicates.' [the berean call, T. A. McMahon]

"The message of the gospel will never be popular in the world because "the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness....unto the Jews [it is] a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness...." 1 Corinthians 1:18,23

Furthermore, rather than drawing the multitudes to Christ by example, Scripture states, "...all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." 2 Timothy 3:12

Jesus declared: "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you." John 15:18-19. 

If you are looking for acceptance, recognition, self-esteem. If you hunger for significance know for a certainty that as a 'follower' of our LORD this is not possible.  Our calling is to take up our cross and follow Him.

"And calling the crowd to Him with His disciples, He said to them, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels." Mark 8